Richard Ferris: Okay then, why do you look like that?
Kila: Contact rights merely are the right to decide which government, if any, may lay claim to this new world. If I was interested in this planet, I would be pleased, as I have legal right to fend off anyone else from taking it. I am not interested in this planet. But Dr. Kao thinks that I want it and that only he can give it to me. We were even, before. I can do something he needs to be done, and he has money I need. But now, he thinks he has an extra hold on me that he does not have. If things become very bad, he will try to use this world against me and it will not work.
Richard Ferris: Oh… good for you, then… I guess.
Kila: You don’t need to fear the natives, by the way. They’re fleshy, soft, and don’t seem possessed of unusual strength or intelligence. Granted, I only saw two of them, there could be more powerful and dangerous creatures that are in control elsewhere… but that’s generally rare, in most cases, if it looks like the dominant species, it is. Also, their technology isn’t quite up to ours so if anything really goes wrong we just shoot stuff. As for papers, they don’t even know we exist so far. They won’t fine us for not having passport.
Richard Ferris: How do you know so much stuff?
Kila: I’ve been to many planets. This one is little deal.